Detroit surpasses homicide total from last year

Detroit killings are on the rise again, with the city eclipsing last year's murder total in less than 11 months.

Comment

By AP

Ionia Sentinel - Standard-Ionia, MI

By AP

Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 12:43 AM
Updated Nov 30, 2012 at 12:44 AM

By AP

Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 12:43 AM
Updated Nov 30, 2012 at 12:44 AM

DETROIT

Detroit killings are on the rise again, with the city eclipsing last year's murder total in less than 11 months.

Through Thanksgiving, there were 354 homicides committed in Detroit, according to the city's website.

Police reported that Detroit had 344 homicides for all of 2011.

"It seems like every time I look at the news, someone has been killed," said Delores McQueen-Miller, 62, whose son was one of this year's murder victims.

Jawan McQueen, 47, had parked his cab outside a gas station on Detroit's east side in October when two men apparently tried to rob him. A gunfight ensued, and McQueen was shot to death.

With just over 700,000 residents, Detroit is among the nation's leaders in homicide rates. It earned the nickname "Murder City" after more than 700 homicides were committed there in 1974.

Two years ago, the city reported 309 murders, according to the Michigan State Police Uniform Crime Report. That followed 364 murders reported in 2009 and 327 in 2008.

Preliminary reports show overall violent crime in Detroit is down from last year, despite the increase in homicides and a rash of holdups and shootings outside gas stations in the city. One of the more high-profile cases involved the Rev. Marvin Winans, a prominent Detroit pastor and gospel music icon.

Winans was assaulted, robbed and carjacked by several men in May while pumping gas. The robbers took his sport utility vehicle, Rolex watch and $250 in cash. Arrests were made within days of the robbery, and three men were sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

"I will not buy any gas in Detroit," said McQueen-Miller, who grew up in Detroit but now lives just north of the city in Eastpointe. "Every time I go to buy gas, somebody is standing around the gas station. I'm afraid somebody will come up on me while I'm trying to pump my gas."

The surge in homicides also comes as officers and the police union grapple with Mayor Dave Bing over wage cuts and the implementation of some 12-hour shifts. The cuts and changes are expected to save the cash-strapped city $100 million.

"DPD has an officer manpower crisis," said Donato Iorio, an attorney for the Detroit police union. "Today, there are 1,000 fewer police officers than 10 years ago. At the same time, calls for service, homicides and crime has exploded, overwhelming officers on the street."

The Associated Press left messages Thursday seeking comment from a Detroit police spokeswoman.